Other familiar sightings since Creed has shown up

Life does continue on in our world, even if we do have a new addition and it would be nice to stop everything for awhile. Cadence still goes to school, Caleb Shaun still has his therapies every week, Chris goes to work and teaches in the afternoons, and I just try to keep everything (and myself) going with the adjustment of an additional person here all the time. Thankfully, we have fantastic friends who stay with me the entire time Chris is at school. Because of the c-section, I can't pick up Caleb Shaun, which has been really difficult, so the extra person here all day is to take him in and out of his crib, put him in and out of the high chair, chase him around the house since I don't move very fast, etc.

So, here are some pictures of life as it keeps on going post-Creed.

Caleb Shaun still drums on everything he can get his hands on!

Cadence got her halloween costume and has been practicing being super-girl :) My favorite part is the key stuck in her belt!

Caleb Shaun is even more mobile and pulls up on the grocery cart or his blue chair and pushes his way around the house.

There's quite a bit of this that goes on


Cadence thought it was funny that she fit in Shaunie's shirt


Shaun discovering Creed for the first time. He ripped his socks off and made him cry. This seems to be pretty normal for their relationship at this point. We're convinced that Caleb Shaun is just getting Creed ready to be a great play-mate long term.

More pulling up


Cadence has discovered that her hair can be braided and loves it! Sadly, I can't braid so Mom had to do it while she was here and Cadence has to wait until someone else shows up that knows how to braid.


Lots of this goes on too :)


All the NC great-grands having popsicles and sharing Creed.



As Shaunie gets more adjusted to life with a little brother, we're seeing way more smiles again from him instead of him always screaming at us. We're REALLY glad for this!

Firsts!

When you bring a new baby home, there are lots of firsts. Thankfully between Mom and I, most of them are documented. At least from the first week :) So, here are some pictures from Creed's firsts.

First time sleeping in his bassinet (if only he could remember that this is where he's supposed to sleep and not in our bed!)


First outing with the family. A girl from church was having a pancake breakfast to raise money for her YWAM trip to Australia so we all went to have pancakes at Applebees.


First Sunday lunch out - at Pueblo Grande with the Kales!


First trip to the park. Mom, the Kales, and I took the kids to the park to have lunch and play. Chris met us because he had some time for lunch from school so he came to hang out with us too!





First Bath. Cadence was the photographer.

Hanging at the hospital and coming home!

The days following Sept 7th were pretty uneventful. It was lots of hanging out and me healing and getting the hang of helping Creed survive. We had great nurses who were very helpful and yet, for the most part, stayed out of our way and let us do our own thing. Creed lost more weight than they were comfortable with - he went from 10 lb 2 oz to 9 lb 3 oz - so the nurses thought it would be a good idea to supplement my breastfeeding until my milk came in. I wasn't thrilled with this but thankfully they had donor breastmilk at the hospital and so we gave Creed that in a bottle instead of formula.

Cadence spent lots of time at the hospital learning how to be a great big sister. She loves both of her brothers so much and really wants to be a good big sister, although sometimes that's hard. She picked out this balloon and teddy bear to give to Creed and brought it to the room to us.



Here are random pictures of us hanging out at the hospital. Skyping, feeding, and sleeping were pretty much what we did.



Flowers from MiMi and Pop Pop that we got to enjoy during our stay.





Cadence was so tired at the end of this day but we were waiting on Chris to get to the hospital before Mom and Dad left with Cadence. So, she sat in the big hospital bed and held Creed for us.


me still on the computer :)


Dressing Creed to go home. Mom bought this outfit the same time she bought Cadence's to go home from the hospital 4 years ago. So, they matched. Hers was way too big when she came home and Creed's fit pretty well. They wore the same shoes home too but on Creed we had to cram his foot into them because they were too small for us big feet!


The nurse, Amber, was very helpful to us both days we were at the hospital. In fact, she's the nurse that was with me the first day for monitoring and prepped me for the c-section before she went off duty and then ended up being with us Wednesday and Thursday as our nurse in the regular room. I'm so grateful that we found favor with everyone who helped us and they were nice and helpful the entire time. I prayed specifically for that and the Lord more than answered our prayers!

All our loot to go home!


Creed in his first car ride. He did much better on it than he has done since then :)

This is the same hat that I (ashleigh) wore at the hospital 31 years ago when I was born!

People started showing up to meet Creed as were were being wheeled into our room from recovery. We are so grateful for family and friends who love us and are excited about Creed being here. So, we welcomed everyone who came in the door - and tried to get pictures of everyone although we know we missed some.

The Callaways were there first walking into the room with us. I LOVE that Kagan was so excited to meet Creed that he wore one of his ties! Kagan will be a great big cousin for both of our boys to learn from ;) My sister Emily, Rob and Jane came in right behind them. Emily was supposed to be in the delivery room taking pictures but everything happened so fast that she made it after all the initial excitement was over. Either way we're glad the Lourceys came over.


The Devines are the reason taht we're in NC at all and have the family we have. So, it's only fitting that they were among the first to be in the room celebrating with us!


Cadence and Caleb Shaun didn't come until the next day, Wednesday. By the time we were in our room on Tuesday evening, it was past dinner time and heading quickly to bedtime so we thought it was better to wait until the next morning to have them meet their new brother. Cadence was in love at first sight and held her brother for so long just like a great big sister should.


Caleb Shaun was mostly excited to see his "da da" but has gotten more interested in Creed since we've been home.


My parents drove all night to be here first thing Wednesday morning. They slept for a few hours at our house and then came up to the hospital to meet their newest grandchild. I think they liked him pretty good ;)


Everyone hanging out


The Kales kept Caleb Shaun while we were at the hospital, and after we got home, we're glad to keep them in babies to hold = although this might be the last one for a while!